Introduction to Atomic Structure and Ionic Compounds

Practice vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental chemistry concepts, subatomic particles, periodic table structure, and ionic nomenclature.

Proton

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a positive charge that dictates an element's identity.

Neutron

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus with no charge that contributes mass and stability to an atom.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge located outside the nucleus that participates in bonding and determines overall charge.

Periods

The horizontal rows on the periodic table.

Groups

The vertical columns on the periodic table containing elements that share similar chemical properties.

Alkali metals

The group of elements located in Group $1$ of the periodic table, including lithium, sodium, and potassium, which react violently with water.

Atomic number

The number located at the top of an element's box on the periodic table that corresponds to its number of protons.

Mass number

The total combined number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Isotopes

Different forms of the same element that share the same atomic number of protons but have differing numbers of neutrons.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that possesses an electrical charge due to an imbalance between protons and electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses one or more electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains one or more electrons.

Metalloids

Elements that surround the dotted staircase on the periodic table and possess properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals.

Ionic compound

A chemical compound composed of a metal and a nonmetal that typically dissolves in water.

Covalent compound

A chemical compound composed of two nonmetals.

Valence electrons

The outermost electrons in an atom's electron cloud that are directly involved in chemical bonding.

Crossover method

A technique for determining an ionic compound's formula where the numeric values of the ionic charges switch positions to become the subscripts of the opposite elements.